Rent Assistance Programs - Home Forward 0515.pdf · Participants rent a unit in one of the properties that hold these vouchers. The vouchers stay with the property and are not “portable”

135 SW Ash Street

Portland, OR 97204 · 503.802.8300

homeforward.org

Shelter Plus CareShelter Plus CareShelter Plus CareShelter Plus Care

Shelter Plus Care provides rent assistance and supportive

services to people with disabilities who are experiencing

homelessness. As with the Housing Choice Voucher Program,

participants rent from private landlords and pay a percentage

of their income for rent, with Home Forward paying the

remainder. Social service agencies partner with Home Forward

to provide support services for tenants. The partner agencies

take applications, select participants, and maintain waiting

lists. Shelter Plus Care provides assistance to 500 households.

How to ApplyHow to ApplyHow to ApplyHow to Apply

•••• Applications are through the participating agencies. Dial

2-1-1 and speak with a 211 service representative.

Short Term Rent AssistanceShort Term Rent AssistanceShort Term Rent AssistanceShort Term Rent Assistance

STRA provides limited housing assistance (up to 24 months)

to households in Multnomah County that are experiencing

homelessness or at risk of homelessness. It provides

emergency hotel/motel vouchers for temporary shelter,

helps households in danger of eviction maintain the housing

they have, and helps households obtain permanent housing.

Assistance can include rent or mortgage payment, deposits

and application fees, move-in costs, and support services.

These services are provided through 19 public and non-

profit agencies. To be eligible, households must have

incomes at or below 50 percent of the area median income.


•••• Applications are through the participating agencies. Dial

2-1-1 and speak with a 211 service representative.

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Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) helps homeless

veterans find permanent supportive housing by pairing Home

Forward rental vouchers with support services from the U.S.

Department of Veterans Affairs. Similar to Home Forward’s

other voucher programs, participants pay a percentage of

their income to private landlords for rent, and Home Forward

pays the rest. Home Forward has 446 housing vouchers for

use in the VASH program. It is estimated that Portland’s

homeless population includes up to 2,000 veterans, indicating

the high need for this assistance.


•••• The Veterans Affairs Resource Center refers veterans to

Home Forward. Call 503-808-1256.

Rent Assistance Programs

A Variety of Programs to Meet Community Needs Home Forward offers a number of rent assistance programs to low-income residents. All of

these programs allow residents to rent from private landlords, with Home Forward assisting

with rent payments. This brochure summarizes these programs and tells how to get more

information about them.

Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)————

TenantTenantTenantTenant----Based VouchersBased VouchersBased VouchersBased Vouchers

Under the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8), Home

Forward provides tenant-based vouchers directly to tenants.

Tenants are qualified low-income individuals, families, people with

disabilities, and seniors who have an income of 50 percent or less

of the area median income. Many participants have incomes that

are less than 30 percent of the area median income.

Upon receiving a voucher, tenants can choose any rental in

Multnomah or Clackamas Counties that meets Home Forward’s

quality standards and has reasonable rents compared with similar

units in the market. Tenants pay a minimum of 28.5 percent of their

income toward the monthly rent, and Home Forward pays the

remainder directly to the landlord.

Tenants negotiate a lease directly with the landlord. Landlords use

their own lease and apply the same screening criteria and rental

terms that apply to any other applicants and tenants.

Home Forward determines who is eligible for the program and

calculates the amount of assistance tenants receive, based on each

individual family’s income. Home Forward also provides ongoing

information and support to tenants and landlords.


Tenant-based vouchers are highly sought after, and there is a

waiting list for receiving assistance. Home Forward opens the

waiting list periodically and advertises when this happens. Home

Area Median Income (AMI)Area Median Income (AMI)Area Median Income (AMI)Area Median Income (AMI)————2020202011115555, Multnomah County, Multnomah County, Multnomah County, Multnomah County

Number of Persons in HouseholdNumber of Persons in HouseholdNumber of Persons in HouseholdNumber of Persons in Household

1 2 4

50% of AMI $25,750 $29,400 $36,750

30% of AMI $15,450 $17,650 $24,250

Forward uses a lottery system to distribute vouchers to applicants

who are on the list. Applicants can wait a number of years to obtain

a voucher.

• For information, call 503-802-8333 or go to:

www.homeforward.org/find-a-home/get-help-paying-rent/long-

term-help

Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)————

ProjectProjectProjectProject----Based VouchersBased VouchersBased VouchersBased Vouchers

The project-based voucher program is similar in many respects to

the tenant-based program. However, project-based vouchers are

tied to specific affordable rental properties rather than given directly

to tenants. Participants rent a unit in one of the properties that hold

these vouchers. The vouchers stay with the property and are not

“portable” – i.e., tenants cannot use them to rent units elsewhere.

The project-based program focuses on people with high housing

barriers—for example, people with very low incomes (less than 30

percent of the area median income). Some properties give preference

to specific populations, such as people with disabilities or those

experiencing homelessness. The program often links tenants with

support services provided at the property.

How Rent AssistanceHow Rent AssistanceHow Rent AssistanceHow Rent Assistance HelpsHelpsHelpsHelps

Program numbers show how the Housing Choice Voucher

program helps low-income households in the community.

•••• Over 3,800 landlords and 9,600 households participate.

Participants are

• 64% are seniors (55 or older) or people with disabilities

• 22% of the households have work-related income

• 15% families receive temporary assistance to needy

families (TANF)

•••• About 88% of the households have an income of less than

30% of the area median income.

•••• The program contributes nearly $63 million in rents into

Multnomah County.


Properties with project-based vouchers maintain their own waiting

lists, and prospective tenants apply directly to the property. The

waiting times vary, depending on the properties, their rental

preferences, and their turnover rates.

• For a property list, go to:

www.homeforward.org/find-a-home/get-help-paying-

rent/section-8-apartment-list

ModeModeModeModerrrrateateateate RRRRehabilitationehabilitationehabilitationehabilitation

The Moderate Rehabilitation program ties rent assistance to

specific affordable rental properties. Most of the properties are

single-room occupancy (SRO) units located in downtown Portland.

To be eligible, applicants must have an income of 50 percent or

less of the area median income. They pay 30 percent of their

income for rent, and Home Forward pays the rest. There are 512

rental units in this program.


Applicants apply directly to the individual properties. The waiting

times vary, depending on the properties and their turnover rates.

• For a property list, go to:

www.homeforward.org/find-a-home/get-help-paying-

rent/section-8-apartment-list

Documents

Rent Assistance Programs - Home Forward 0515.pdf · Participants rent a unit in one of the properties that hold these vouchers. The vouchers stay with the property and are not “portable”